Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) engages in the generation, purchasing, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. With a market cap of $47.9 billion, Xcel operates through Regulated Electric Utility and Regulated Natural Gas Utility segments.
The utilities giant is set to announce its third-quarter results before the market opens on Thursday, Oct. 30. Ahead of the event, analysts expect XEL to report an adjusted profit of $1.34 per share, up 7.2% from $1.25 per share reported in the year-ago quarter. While the company has missed the Street’s bottom-line estimates thrice over the past four quarters, it has surpassed the projections on one other occasion.
For the full fiscal 2025, XEL is expected to deliver an adjusted EPS of $3.81, up 8.9% from $3.50 in 2024. In fiscal 2026, its earnings are expected to further grow 8.1% year-over-year to $4.12 per share.
XEL stock prices have soared 28.7% over the past 52 weeks, notably outperforming the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLU) 14.7% surge and the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 14.4% gains during the same time frame.
Xcel Energy’s stock prices gained 1.5% in the trading session following the release of its solid Q2 results on Jul. 31. Driven by growth in both electric and natural gas revenues, the company’s overall topline for the quarter increased 8.6% year-over-year to $3.3 billion. Further, the company expects to observe a surge in electric demand in the coming years and is making investments to meet the growing demand.
Meanwhile, the company’s EPS for the quarter grew 38.9% year-over-year to $0.75, surpassing the consensus estimates by 19.1%.
Analysts remain optimistic about the stock’s prospects. XEL maintains a consensus “Strong Buy” rating overall. Of the 16 analysts covering the stock, opinions include 12 “Strong Buys” and four “Holds.” As of writing, the stock is trading slightly below its mean price target of $82.71.
